The closeness of relevant parts of the AfD to Russia is always a source of criticism. Now, according to information from WELT AM SONNTAG, an AfD member of the Bundestag has once again visited the Russian embassy. Bundestag parliamentary group vice-chairman Stefan Keuter took part in a festive reception at the embassy on Wednesday evening to mark the Russian national holiday.
A photo published on Facebook shows Keuter next to the businessman Alexander von Bismarck, the former AfD member of the Bundestag Ulrich Oehme and a high-ranking employee of the embassy. Oehme is a founding member of a pro-Russian association and is running for the Saxon state parliament in September.
The photo was posted by the deputy federal spokesman for Christians in the AfD, Michael Adam. He can also be seen in the picture. “Having political discussions in the best company is a privilege,” wrote Adam. “The food was also not to be sniffed at. Thanks to the Russian Embassy.”
Keuter left a request from WELT AM SONNTAG on Thursday afternoon unanswered.
According to a publication by the Russian embassy, veterans of the German-Soviet war between 1941 and 1945 also took part in the “ceremonial reception” on Wednesday evening.
AfD parliamentary group vice-chairman Keuter has already attracted attention several times with his closeness to Russia. In 2018, Russia organized an observation of the presidential election. Keuter accepted the invitation and subsequently praised the elections as “free, equal and secret”. The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) had criticized at the time that there was effectively no choice in the vote and that pressure was continuously exerted on critical voices. The OSCE election observers also criticized restrictions on the admission of candidates.
Even after the start of Russia’s expanded war of aggression against Ukraine, Keuter took part in a conference against economic sanctions held in Moscow via Zoom. He complained about the “propaganda” in the German media, he said afterwards.
Last year, party leader Tino Chrupalla and honorary chairman Alexander Gauland visited the Russian embassy in Berlin on May 9, when the “Victory Day” over Germany in World War II was celebrated there. The visit also sparked sharp criticism within the party and the Bundestag faction.